Smart Electrical Drop Wire-Forms and Electrical Power Management System

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a power management system utilizing “smart” wire-devices installable in the “drop-grid” or “micro-grid” at a premise, such as a business or residence. The “smart” wire-device includes a management node integrated into a typical electrical power outlet, circuit breaker or switch as would be found in such premises, and is installable in the power line in a manner similar to existing wire-devices. The “smart” wire-device requires no special skill to install The present wire-device is “smart” in that the node has a detector circuit that senses the electrical characteristic(s) of the power line at the point at which it is installed. The node&#39;s communication circuit communicates with one or more spatially separated remote controller devices. The node operates a remotely controllable maker/breaker means in response to received instructions to alter the condition of the electrical power output of the “smart” wire-device.

CONTINUATION DATA

The present application claims the benefit of prior co-pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/567,721 filed 25 September to which thepresent application is a US Divisional application, and which priorapplication in turn claimed the benefit of prior U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/508,569 filed 24 Jul. 2009; Ser. No. 12/251,449 filed 14Oct. 2008; 61/181,292 filed 27 May 2009; 61/100,258 filed 25 Sep. 2008;and International Patent Application serial number PCT/US08/79895 filed14 Oct. 2008, and which prior applications are incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of devices for measuring andtesting of one or more electric properties, e.g., kilowatt hourdemand/usage (Class 324) of a wire device. Specifically, the presentinvention relates to electrical usage measurement devices that senseelectricity, per se, and signal the result of the measurement forexhibiting and/or processing (Subclass 76.11), and condition responsivecontrol of the wire device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The motivation to improve usage efficiency has long existed in theelectrical power field. Growing energy demand, escalating energy costsand a heightened awareness of both energy security and climate changehave long driven interest in the field to improved energy efficiency asmechanism for mitigating the impact of the power industry onsustainability and the environment. In view of this, the utilityindustry has been motivated to develop and implement comprehensiveenergy efficiency systems that allow them to monitor a power grid'scomponent devices in real-time (visibility) and to remotelycontrol/manage (i.e., alter or redirect the power going to) thosedevices in real-time. Further, the visibility and control must include asubstantial degree of “granularity,” meaning that individual loadcomponents of the grid are visible to and controllable by the powermanagement system. However, the electrical power distribution grids ofelectrical utility providers are not the only points at which meaningfulelectrical energy efficiencies need to be accomplished. It would bebeneficial to the field if small electrical power consumers weresimilarly able to accomplish electrical usage efficiencies in theconsumer's own premises power grid: the “micro-grid” represented by theconsumer's premises (e.g., residence or place of business).

To accomplish a comprehensive, premises based energy efficiency program,it is necessary for the devices on premises power grid (the electricalwiring system on the drop-side of the utility provider's power meteringdevice) to have real-time visibility and remote management capabilityfor the small consumer analogous to the capacity the devices on autility's distribution grid provide to the utility provider. In largeindustrial and commercial facilities, such visibility and control areoften accomplish using very expensive proprietary hardware and softwarecomponents not available to residential and small business consumers.

For premises, especially of residential and small business consumers, itwould be beneficial if there were alternatives available in the way ofoff-the-shelf components and systems useful for accomplishing improvedenergy usage efficiencies, which components and systems do not requirean inordinate amount of skill to install. The components of such asystem as much as possible should resemble in structure and function,the existing components in the consumer's premises power grid. In otherwords, the new devices should be adapted to be readily retrofit into apremise' existing electrical lines to replace existing electricalappliance wiring devices. Additionally, the components should notrequire skill to install that is beyond that of ordinary electricianinstaller, and once installed should be unobtrusive in the environmentof the premises. Further, the overall system and the remote systemcontroller should be easy to understand, to implement and tooperate—i.e., user friendly for the consumer.

Recently, products have been developed which attempt to address at leastin part some of the aforementioned needs. Examples include: the“Kill-a-Watt” of P3 Industries (NY, N.Y.;www.p3international.com/products/special/P4400/P4400-CE.html), the“WattsUp” of Electronic Educational Devices (Denver, Colo.;www.wattsupmeters.com/secure/products.php), as well as the power plugand power strip device of U.S. Pat. No. 7,099,785. Although, thesedevices may be useful for their intended purpose, to visually monitorthe electrical energy consumption of an individual appliance, these andsimilar devices do not enable the user to remotely (at a distance)monitor the device in a manner analogous to how a power company remotelymonitors multiple devices. More importantly, these and similar devicesdo not enable the user to remotely control the device in a manneranalogous to how a power company remotely controls devices on its powergrid. Therefore, these types of device cannot accomplish the real-timevisibility and remote management capability for the consumer, analogousto that which a utility has over the devices on its distribution grid.

Other products developed in the field for residential-type premises areuseful for monitoring the “overall” energy usage of a premises or the“overall” energy usage of a single circuit breaker. However, thesedevices do not enable granular visibility and control of all or asubstantial portion of individual loads on a premise' grid—it is not theindividual load component or appliance that is monitored, only the usageof the line. The individual load components on the line are not visible.Therefore, these devices and the systems using them cannot provide thedegree of granular visibility to residential user necessary toaccomplish energy usage efficiencies analogous to that which a utilityhas over its distribution grid. Examples of this limited type of deviceare set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 7,043,380 to Rodenberg et al. and U.S.Pat. No. 7,263,450 to Hunter.

Rodenberg discloses a distribution panel circuit breaker monitoringdevice wherein the overall power usage of the drop-side of the breakeris monitored, but which cannot monitor the usage of the individualappliances on the drop. Therefore, the Rodenberg device fails to providethe granular visibility analogous to a utility provider's efficiencysystem. Hunter discloses an optical automatic meter reader, a datacollector and a computer. The meter reader attaches outside of anexisting utility meter and senses power usage, and the data collectorstores power usage data obtained via the meter communicates the data tothe computer for viewing by the user. The computer provides acentralized object through which the user views power consumption. TheHunter device and system only monitors overall power usage of thedrop-side of the utility service meter. It cannot monitor the usage ofthe individual appliances on the drop. Therefore, the Hunter device alsofails to provide the granular visibility analogous to a utilityprovider's efficiency system.

However, it would be beneficial if a system were available to a consumermicro-grid that provided visibility and control of energy usage acrossthe micro-grid, without needing to utilize bespoke form-factors andconfigurations that do not accommodate simple retrofit, and that do notrequire custom wiring and installation. It would be further useful tohave available such devices as would allow the consumer's micro-grid tointerface with a local (“on the micro-grid”) power source, such as abattery bank or photo-voltaic array.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a premises based electricity power usagemanagement system utilizing “Smart Wire-Devices” (SWD). The managementsystem integrates one or more smart wire-form device circuits to enablethe measurement of electrical power usage data (of a wire-formelectrical load interface such as a wall outlet, light switch, circuitbreaker, etc.), and to transmit the data to a signal processor distallyseparated from the wire-form device circuits. The smart wire-device is aremotely controllable, condition sensing wire-device installable on thedrop-side of the electric power line, i.e., the micro-grid of apremises. The smart wire-device measures an electrical property of theelectric power line, such as: line current; line voltage; linefrequency; electrical ground condition; wattage; line power factor; lineelectrical noise; and line impedance.

The condition sensing wire-device comprises a current-carryingelectrical appliance wiring-device form component and a management node.The current-carrying electrical appliance wiring-device has a locallycontrolled maker/breaker means for opening and closing the electricpower line to provide power to the appliance connected to it. Thecurrent-carrying electrical appliance wiring-device typically is in aform similar to a wall outlet, a surface-mount electrical switch (e.g.,a wall switch) and/or an electrical circuit breaker.

The management node includes a control mechanism, a sensing circuit, anda communications circuit. The control mechanism has a remotelycontrollable maker/breaker means - separate from the locally controlledmaker/breaker means of the electrical wiring-device. The remotelycontrollable maker/breaker means of the management node controls thecondition of the node's control mechanism in response to an internaldevice signal from the communications circuit. The sensing circuit is inelectrical communication with the electric power line and the controlmechanism. The sensing circuit measures one or more electricalproperties of the electrical line, and as a result of the measuring andthe sensing, it generates an internal device signal and sends the signalto the communications circuit. The communications circuit is adapted toreceive, process and route the signals it receives from the sensingcircuit (and other sources), and to transmit external output to aspatially separated, remote signal processing device via an I/Ointerface port, and to receive external input signals via the I/O port.

The management node is physically integrated with the electricalappliance wiring-device to provide the condition sensing wire-device ofthe present invention in a unitary form.

Another advantage of the present invention is accomplished in thesituation where the premises micro-grid includes a local source or storeof electrical power, such as a local photo-voltaic array or a batterybank. Local, on-site generation of electricity, via solar photo-voltaics(PV's), wind, hydroelectric, etc. is an increasingly important source ofpower for most electrical power distribution systems. The ability tomonitor and control these methods of local generation is necessary inorder to maximize the effectiveness of the system. Locally generatedelectricity often is provided as DC power (e.g., from a battery or a PVsource). In these cases, a DC-AC inverter is required to convert the DCpower to AC power typically used on a premises micro-grid. A “smart”inverter embodying the management node of the present invention providesa solution for monitoring, and control of a local DC power source. Bymeasuring the electrical characteristics (power, voltage, current,phase, frequency, power factor, etc.) at both the input and output ofthe inverter, measurements for the power generated, power supplied, andinverter efficiency and phase-locking can be provided. Control at theinverter location provides the ability to electrically disconnect,shunt, or otherwise limit/vary the amount of electrical power supplied.

Additionally, the ability to communicate with the inverter allows theinverter to be networked into the present power management system. Themanagement node of the smart inverter provides the ability tocommunicate with the present power management system via the describedI/O methods. The smart inverter management node can also communicatedirectly with the inverter's internal circuitry via an integral serialconnection. This provides the inverter with the ability to communicateto the user data in addition to data from the sensors 46 a, 46 b;additional data such as: inverter circuitry state, inverter health, anddiagnostic data related to the inverter circuitry.

Furthermore, it is an advantage of the present system to provide a meansaccomplishing the reverse operation of the inverter: i.e., a rectifyingdevice which converts the AC power of the micro-grid to DC power for useor storage locally. This is accomplishable by substituting a rectifyingdevice for or adding a rectifying device to the inverter element 22 inFIG. 9. The rectifying device in practice can be used, for example, tocharge a battery bank or other energy storage mechanism. The rectifyingdevice will benefit from the aforementioned monitoring and controlcapabilities provided by the management node.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of prior current-carryingelectrical appliance wiring-forms which are practicable in the presentSmart Wire-Device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of theSmart Wire-Device of the present invention, wherein the node of theSmart Wire-Device measures a condition of the power line andcommunicates the result of the measurement (directly or indirectly) to aremotely located processor.

FIG. 3A is a schematic representation of another preferred embodiment ofthe present Smart Wire Form as in FIG. 2, additionally having amanagement capability remotely controllable from a spatially separatedlocation.

FIG. 3B is a schematic representation of a portion of the embodiment ofFIG. 3A, but including an electronic manual override mechanismaccessible by a user.

FIG. 3C is a schematic representation of an alternative embodiment ofFIG. 3A, in which the communications circuit includes a processor withappropriate circuitry and memory.

FIGS. 3D and 3E illustrate the feed-back loop feature of the managementnode.

FIGS. 4A-4D are schematic representations of the communicationinterfaces of a communication circuit in various I/O modes.

FIG. 5 is a simplified illustration of a typical residential electricalsystem on which SWD/Management Nodes have been implemented.

FIG. 6 depicts the relationship of communicating Management Nodesrelative to potential problems in the communications network.

FIG. 7 illustrates the communications network in a mesh typeconfiguration having a plurality of discrete networks within the presentsystem.

FIG. 8 illustrates the system's means of mapping the location ofindividual MNs relative to each other.

FIG. 9 is a schematic exemplifying a smart wire device having aninverter as a wiring-form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, the details of preferred embodiments ofthe present invention are graphically and schematically illustrated.Like elements in the drawings are represented by like numbers, and anysimilar elements are represented by like numbers with a different lowercase letter suffix.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment of the present inventionis a Smart Wire-Device 10. The Smart Wire-Device 10 is intended to beinstallable in an electric power line 16 at a consumer premises, i.e.,on the drop-side of the electrical utility service at an end consumer'slocation (premises). An end user's location is the consumer's businesspremises, residence, shop location and the like. In this embodiment, theSmart Wire-Device 10 is used for measuring an electrical property of theconsumer premises electric power line 16 at a point in the power line16, and to communicate that measurement to an external device (such as areceiver/processor, computer device 160, 165 (see FIG. 7) or anothersmart wire-device 10) spatially distant from the subject SmartWire-Device 10. The Smart Wire-Device 10 comprises a management node 40in combination with a current-carrying electrical appliance wiring-form20 (see FIG. 1). The types of current-carrying electrical appliancewiring-forms 20 intended to be practiced in the present invention are,in part, defined in the 2007 NAICS table of industry definitions as aclass 335931 Current-Carrying Wiring Devices. The management node 40comprises a sensing circuit 44, and a communications circuit 42, whichin combination provide for detecting a “condition” of the electricalpower line 16 at the point at which it is installed and communicatingthat condition to a remote receiver/processor.

A current-carrying electrical appliance wiring-form 20 is a means forregulating the flow of electricity through the electric power line 16 atthe point at which it is installed in the line 16. Examples of suchprior art wire-form are set forth in the 2007 NAICS table of industrydefinitions as a class 335931 Current-Carrying Wiring Device. In a priorart wiring form, this regulation typically consists of simply openingand/or closing the electric power line 16 at the point of installationin response to a manual operation, such as operating a wall switch orconnecting a power cord to an electrical outlet.

The management node 40 is an electronic device that comprises at least asensing circuit 44 and a communications circuit 42. In a preferredembodiment, the management node 40 has a unique identifier (“ID”) linkedto it. The unique ID can be assigned during the production process, orcan be assigned later (either manually or dynamically). The uniqueidentifier allows the system to identify individual nodes 40 on anetwork of nodes 45 (see FIG. 7), and enable the present system toperform its networking functions. The sensing circuit 44 communicateswith the electric power line 16 and detects/measures an electricalproperty of the electrical line 16. The result of thedetection/measurement (and any other sensor output) is sent as aninternal device signal 54 from the sensing circuit to the communicationscircuit 42. The communication circuit 42 receives and processes theinternal device signal 54 from the sensing circuit 44 (and otherinternal device signals) and outputs a processed signal to a remotesignal source and processor device (e.g., remote computer 160, 165 inFIG. 7) such a remote controller device via a signal output port 48.

The management node 40 feature of the Smart Wire-Device 10 is not to beconfused with a “load-shedding” device. Load-shedding is defined as:cutting off the electric current on certain lines when the demandbecomes greater than the supply. See: wordnetweb.princeton.edu. Thepurpose of a load-shedding device is to automatically shut-off theattached appliance when (a) a preset level of electricity consumption isreached or (b) at a scheduled time. For example, see U.S. Pat. No.7,043,380. In contrast, in a preferred embodiment the present managementnode 40 provides more granular control of the attached appliance byenabling the user to communicate with it to accomplish a repertoire ofcontrol features (such as varying the power, the duty cycle or theoperational state of the attached appliance) in addition to merelyshutting off power to the appliance.

In practice, the management node 40 is physically integrated with theelectrical appliance wiring-form 20 to provide the Smart Wire-Device 10of the present invention as a single unit. It is intended that theintegrated unit generally resembles the prior wire-form it replaces inboth its appearance and how it is installed in a premises electricalpower line 16. In other words, the present Smart Wire Device 10outwardly resembles a prior wire-form in looks and in the manner bywhich it is installed in a premises electrical power line 16. However,the Smart Wire-Device 10 substantially differs from the prior wire-formsit replaces in its internal structure and the scope of its operation,its utility and its functions.

In an additional preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3A, themanagement node 40 of the Smart Wire-Device 10 further comprises acontrol mechanism 70. The control mechanism 70 has its own circuitmaker/breaker means 74 separate from the maker/breaker means of theelectrical wiring-form 20. Additionally, the control mechanismmaker/breaker means 74 is connected to the communications circuit 42,allowing the control mechanism maker/breaker means 74 of the controlmechanism 70 to be in communication with and operated by a signal fromthe comm. circuit 42. In turn, the comm. circuit 42 in this embodimentis adapted for two-way external communication (for example, with aremote signal processor, e.g., a remote computer 160, 165 in FIG. 7) viaeither or both of its I/O ports 50, 52. This external communicationfeature enables the separate maker/breaker means 74 of the controlmechanism 70 to be controlled by a signal from a remotely located signalsource. In other words, the condition of the maker/breaker means 74(e.g., off/partial-on/full on) is remotely controllable by a remotelygenerated signal sent to the management node 40 via the communicationscircuit 42. In this embodiment, the communications circuit 42 is adaptedto receive, process and route internal device signals 54, and totransmit output signals and receive input signals via the communicationports 50, 52.

The communications circuit 42 of the management node 40 is adapted tocommunicate an output signal via a hard-wire I/O interface 50 and/or viaa wireless I/O interface 52. Hard-wire and wireless interfaces are knownto the ordinary skilled artisan and include hard-wired interfaces suchas PLC, USB, Ethernet, etc., and wireless interfaces such as Zigbee,WIFI, radio, etc. However, in the preferred embodiment of thecommunications circuit 42 exemplified in FIG. 3A, both hard-wired 50 andwireless 52 I/O communication interfaces are available for receiving andsending external communications. FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate a benefit ofthis dual I/O interface feature of the communication circuit 42, whichis that it imparts a “fault-tolerant” capability to management node 40communications. The fault-tolerance feature is accomplished by thecommunication circuit 42 of the Smart Wire Device 10 having multipleselectable communication modalities operating in parallel (for example:Power Line Communication (PLC), ZigBee and serial/USB communications).Additionally, individual management nodes 40 are capable of bridgingbetween supported communication protocols and mediums such as between apower line communications (PLC) interface and a radio, Ethernet or USBinterface. In use, an interface priority may be pre-established orelected for the available communication modalities, based on criteriaestablished by associated software, such as ordering; real-time qualityof the com interface (e.g., noise; line loss, etc.) and other knowncriteria. These can be established by software and/or firmware andassociated variables derived from routing tables, priority queues, etc.This can result in some or all of the signals received via a first cominterface 50 being bridged to an alternate com interface 52 of thecommunications circuit 42, as dictated by the communications interfacepriority criteria.

In an alternative preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3C, thecommunications circuit 42 includes a processor 60 with appropriatecircuitry and memory 62. The memory 62 may be of a form known to andselectable by the ordinary skilled artisan, such as volatile andnon-volatile memory means. Examples of such memory means include: flashmemory; a solid state drive (SSD);

a hard drive; or some other form of memory. As shown in FIG. 3C, theprocessor 60 and memory 62 are integrated into the communicationscircuit 42. However, this convention is used here for clarity purposesonly, as the processor 60 and/or memory 62 could be completely separatecircuits or could be practiced as disbursed circuits.

The electrical appliance wiring-form 20 is a consumer-applianceelectrical circuit maker/breaker 24 for connecting an electricalconsumer appliance to an electrical power line 16 on the premises (seeFIG. 1). The consumer-appliance electrical circuit maker/breaker 24 canhave the form of any of a number of commonly available electricalappliance wiring-device forms, such as: an electrical outlet 24 a; asurface-mount electrical switch 24 b; an electrical circuit breaker 24c; additionally including an electrical appliance cord plug; an electricplug adaptor; an electrical lamp socket; an electrical power strip, andin-line electrical switches (not shown). The intended appliancewiring-forms 20 of the present invention are of the type that areinstallable at the consumer's premises in the electric power line 16 onthe drop-side of the utility service's metering device 610 (see FIG. 5).

The sensing circuit 44 of the management node 40 includes one or moreline sensors 46 adapted to enable the sensing circuit 44 to detectand/or measure one or more electrical properties of the electric powerline 16 at the point at which the Smart Wire-Device 10 is installed.Relative to the wiring-form 20, a line sensor 46 of the sensing circuit44 can be placed in either the line-side 16 a or the drop-side of theelectrical power line 16, as selectable by the ordinary skilled artisan.An appropriate electrical property of the power line 16 to be measuredis selectable by one of ordinary skill in the art. Such electricalproperties include: line current; line voltage; line frequency;electrical ground condition; wattage; line power factor; line electricalnoise; and line impedance. Additionally, the sensor circuit has utilityin aiding the communication circuit's “self-healing” (see below)capability. For example, the sensor circuit 44 may detect electricalcharacteristics of the AC power line 16 that are satisfactory for powerline communications (PLC), or that are unsatisfactory and PLC should beavoided, as determined by software instruction associated with theprocessing circuit 60. As an aside, it is to be understood that theprocessor 60 and the memory 62 features of the present invention haveappropriate associates instruction sets (software and/or firmware) toenable the invention to accomplish its intended purpose.

Additionally, in the embodiment exemplified in FIG. 3A, the sensingcircuit 44 of the management node 40 includes a self-sensor 47 adaptedto enable the management node 40 to sense the condition of the controlmechanism maker/breaker means 74 of the control mechanism 70. Inpractice, the remotely controllable maker/breaker means 74 is operablein response to an internal device signal 54 from the communicationscircuit 42 to control the condition or setting of the control mechanism70 by opening and closing a node portion 17 of the electrical power line16. The remotely controllable maker/breaker means 74 is operable inresponse to the internal device signal 54 to accomplish a number ofeffects on the drop-side of the node portion 17 of the electrical powerline 16. In addition to opening and closing to control continuity of thenode portion 17 of the power line, remotely controllable maker/breakermeans 74 can be adapted to alter an electrical property of theelectrical power line drop 16 b without fully opening or breaking thenode portion 17. For example, controllable maker/breaker means 74 can beadapted to voltage or current limit the power line at the node portion17 in the manner of a dimmer switch, potentiometer, rheostat or othermeans of varying electrical power known one of ordinary skill in theart. In a similar manner, the duty cycle of the power line 16 can bevaried. It should be noted that although the control mechanism 70 isshown in the figures on the line side of the wiring-form, it can bedisposed on the drop side of the wiring-form as selectable by theordinary skilled artisan.

Another featured that enhances the benefits of certain embodiments ofthe present Smart Wire-Device 10 of the present invention is a manualoverride mechanism 80 (see FIGS. 3A & 3B). The manual override mechanism80 is mounted on the Smart Wire Device 10 to be accessible to the user,and adapted to allow the user to disable or otherwise alter the actionof the management node 40, e.g., to simply bypass the management node40, change the operating state of the node 40, put the node 40 in adiscovery mode, etc. Many types of override mechanisms are known to andselectable by one of skill in the art for practice in the presentinvention. The override mechanism 80 has a user interface 82, such as abutton, a switch or jumper to allow a node 40 to be reset to a knownstate, or to manually disable/ enabling at least one function of thenode 40. The override itself can be an electronic override circuit 84 a(see FIG. 3A) or a mechanical override 84 b (see FIG. 3B). Optionally,the override mechanism 80 can include a “tell-tale” 83 to indicate thecondition or current setting of the override mechanism 80. In figures,the “tell-tale” 83 is exemplified as an LED which is energized when theoverride 80 is activated.

A further featured that enhances the benefits of certain embodiments ofthe present invention is the sensor circuit 42 being adaptable to aidthe control mechanism and associated circuitry 70 in accomplishingcertain functions. For example, as shown in FIG. 3D, a feedback loop iscreated between the sensors 46 of the sensing circuit 44, the processor60 of the communications circuit 42 and the controllable means 74 of thecontrol mechanism 70. Feedback of power line 16 conditions through thesensor circuit 44 can cause the processor 60 to continuously monitor andcontrol the electrical power provided to the wire device 20. Similarly,the feedback feature provides “intelligence” to the Control mechanism 70feature by enabling it to cycle the power load at opportune moments,such as at the AC sine wave zero crossings. As illustrated in FIG. 3E, aplurality of sensors 46 a, 46 b may be included in the sensor circuit 44of the management node 40.

FIG. 5 illustrates of a typical Electrical Power Management System ofthe present invention on which SWD/Management Nodes have beenimplemented. In the present system, electrical power is delivered to theuser consumer by a utility service provider 610 via utility lines 610 aand the consumer's electrical energy usage is monitored by the utilityusing a metering device 610 b installed at the consumer's premises. Inthe present system, the electricity metering device 610 b feeds powerdirectly into the micro-power grid (micro-grid) 1 of the consumer'spremises. Typically, this includes: a distribution panel 200, whichusually contains a main circuit breaker 100 a and a plurality ofdistribution circuit breakers 100 b, 200 a-b. The distribution circuitbreakers 100 b, 200 a-b then feed electrical power to any number ofelectrical appliance wiring-devices throughout the micro-grid 1, whichin turn connect to any number of load appliances 120, 220 a-c, such as awashing machine or a water heater, etc.

In practicing the present Electrical Power Management System, a smartwire-device 10 including a management node 40 is installed at any pointalong a power line 16 a-e of the micro-grid 1 between (or within) a loadappliance 120, 220 a-c and the electrical power source (e.g. the utilitymeter 610 b). This will provide the end user with a multitude of optionsfor measuring and controlling electrical energy usage across the entirepremises micro-grid 1, from the highest level down to a very granularlevel. For example, to manage and control the electrical energy usage ofa typical plug-in type load appliance, such as a television or desklamp, the load appliance may be plugged into a smart wire-device 10configured as a standard wall-outlet 110 a. Similarly, the loadappliance may be plugged directly into a smart wire-device 10 configuredas a multi-plug/power-strip device 110 b. Additionally, a managementnode 40 may be integrated directly into the load appliance itself 120.Management of non-pluggable loads, such as built-in lighting and largeappliances like washing machines, clothes dryers, etc, may be managed bymanagement nodes 40 integrated into switches, dimmers, or similarwiring-devices 130; by management nodes 40 integrated into circuitbreakers 100 b, or by management nodes 40 integrated directly into theload appliance itself 120. It can be seen that many possibleconfigurations are possible.

FIG. 6 illustrates the relative locations of the different managementnodes 310-315 to potential interruptions or “breaks” 700, 750,760 in thecommunications network of the present system, and exemplifies how thesystem can overcome such breaks. The present system utilizes amultiple-media network scheme to overcome “breaks” caused by issues suchas signal interference and/or attenuation which may exist on any of theavailable communications interfaces. In the example shown, eachmanagement node 310-315 includes both a Power-Line Communications (PLC)communications interface 50, as well as a ZigBee wireless interface 52.The figure illustrates how the present system can handle communicationof data (“packets”) originating from “Node 1” 310, destined for “Node 2”to “Node 6” 311-315, though it is clear that this example can apply topackets originating from, or destined for, any of the other systemsdevices. Consider a data packet from “Node 1” 310 for transmission to“Node 2” 311. Under ideal circumstances, the data packet could be sentvia either the Zigbee interface 52, or alternatively via the PLCinterface 50 communicating over the power lines. In a first situationexemplified in FIG. 6, a “break” exists in that there is no direct powerline connection between “Node 1” 310 and “Node 2” 311, thus preventingdirect PLC communication between the two Nodes. Because the Zigbee comlink 52 a was successfully established, the data packet is stillsuccessfully sent from “Node 1” 310 to “Node 2” 311. In a secondsituation also exemplified in FIG. 6, a data packet from “Node 1” 310 isto be sent to “Node 3” 312. In this case, a “break” 700 exists in thewireless interface (e.g., a wall or other EM obstruction), disabling theZigbee com link 52 d. However, communications are still successful, as adirect PLC link 50 c over the power line exists between “Node 1” 310 and“Node 3” 312, which link 50 c can be selected based on criteriaestablished by the node's associated ordering instructions. Furtherexemplified is the situation where a “break” exists on both PLC andZigbee communications links between the nodes, as shown by lack of adirect wired or a wireless com link between “Node 1” 310 and “Node 4”313. In this third case, no direct connection can be established betweenthe two Nodes 310, 313, but because each Node has the ability to store,forward, relay, and/or repeat packets, alternate communications path areutilized by the system based on the criteria established by each node'sassociated ordering instructions and instruction for the systemcontroller. Therefore, “Node 2” 311 can accept from “Node 1” 310 a datapacket destined for “Node 4” 313, via the Zigbee interface 52 a, andforward the packet to “Node 4” 313 via its PLC interface 50 e.Similarly, a com link between “Node 1” 310 and “Node 4” 313 could beestablished through “Node 3” 312, using the PLC com link 50 c to and theZigbee com link 52 b.

While the previous scenario describes receiving a packet on oneinterface, and forwarding the packet out a different interface, asimilar behavior may occur on a single interface, wherein a managementnode has the effect of repeating and/or amplifying a communicationssignal. For example, interference could exists on the power line 760,such that the communications from “Node 1” 310 is severely attenuated,though not be completely blocked. In this case, “Node 3” 312 can acceptthe original data packet from “Node 1” 310 via the PLC com link 50 c,and repeatedly send the packet via the PLC com link 760 to “Node 5” 314until successful reception of the packet is acknowledged. Similarly,using Zigbee instead of PLC, this behavior can be shown between “Nodes1” 310, “Node 2” 311, and “Node 6” 315. If a signal on the Zigbeewireless com link 52 a is strong enough to reach from “Node 1” 310 to“Node 2” 311, but not to “Node 6” 315, then “Node 2” 311 can act as arepeater, resending over ZigBee com link 52 c to establish successfulcommunications between “Node 1” 310 and “Node 6” 315.

The System provides for the ability for any Management Node to be awareof the state of any other Node over the network, and thus an awarenessof the overall state of the Network can be established. For example, if“Node 1” 310 has established successful communications via the ZigBeecom link 52 a with “Node 2” 311, and “Node 2” 311 subsequently goes“off-line” (e.g., experiences a software fault, loses power, isphysically removed from the Network, or is otherwise unable toparticipate on the Network), then “Node 1” 310 is unable to communicatewith Management “Node 2” 311. “Node 1” 310 is able to communicate thisevent to the remaining Nodes on the Network, which in turn may selectalternate communications paths to accommodate the outage of “Node 2”311. As an example of this, if “Node 4” 313 attempts to communicate with“Node 1” 310, it must do so via “Node 3” 312, as the path through “Node2” 311 has been lost. However, having been informed of the outage inadvance by “Node 1” 310, no time is wasted waiting for communicationattempts via a path through “Node 2” 311 to time-out before trying analternate com link.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the present system 800 and thepossible communications pathways and relative locations of the presentsystem's management nodes 311-315 and other communicating devices, suchas a network bridging device 308, “Smart” utility meter 610 b, andPersonal or Remote computer systems 160, 165. The described Personal andRemote computer systems 160, 165 may include any device capable ofparticipating on a communication network, including “smart” orInternet-enabled cellular phones, WiFi appliances, Personal DataAssistants (“PDA's”), etc. The communications network 45, in thisexample, may be described as a “multiple-media, mesh network.” Simplystated, any management node 311-315 may communicate with any othermanagement node 311-315, or other participating networked device, suchas a communications bridging device 308, or a personal computer 160.Intercommunication may be achieved via any of the multitude ofcommunications interface available to a management node (FIG. 3A; 50,52), wherein the interfaces may make use of differing media types, thususing “multiple-media.” Additionally, management nodes 40 provide thesoftware and processing means to store, relay, forward, and/or repeatcommunications data from one management node 40 to another, furtherenabling the mesh network functionality of the proposed system.

In addition to the multiple-media mesh network functionality described,the present system provides for multiple options for interoperabilitywith other networks, for example, a typical computer-based network, suchas a Local Area Network (“LAN”) 500 or the Internet 510. Looking againto FIG. 7, the mesh network 45 formed by the management nodes 311-315 isillustrated. In this example, each management node 311-315 includes botha PLC 50 and a Zigbee 52 communications interface (see FIGS. 3A) forparticipating on the network 45. Additionally, in this example, onenetworked smart devices 308 includes one or more Ethernet, USB, WiFi,and/or Home Area Network (HAN) interfaces allowing it to act as acommunication “bridge” between different networks; storing, forwarding,relaying, and/or repeating communications data (packets) to and from theMesh network 45 and to/from any number of external locations, such as aPersonal Computer 160, a LAN 500, a utility meter 610 b, the Internet510, a remote computer 165, or the utility company 610. It should benoted that a bridging device 308 does not have to be a sensor. Inexamining this example, consider a data packet from the bridging devicenode 308 is in communication with a Personal Computer (PC) 160, which islocated at the same premises at which the present System is installed.It can be seen that the bridging device node 308 can communicate withthe PC 160 in a number of ways, including, but not limited to, a directconnection from the bridging management node 308 to the PC 160, such asUSB or Ethernet cable 440; a connection through a LAN or wireless LAN(“WLAN”) 500 via Ethernet or WiFi interfaces 400, 410; and/or aconnection from the mesh Network 45 directly to the PC 160 via a PLC orZigbee interface 470.

Now consider a packet from the bridging device node 308 destined for aremote, Internet-enabled computer 165. The bridging management node 308can establish a connection to the Internet 510 using Ethernet or Wifi400 via the

LAN/WLAN 500, which in turn has an internet interface 420, and then tothe remote computer 165 through the Internet 510. Optionally, thebridging management node 308 can establish a connection 440 to the localPC 160, which in turn connects to the LAN/WLAN 410, 500, which issimilarly linked to the remote computer 165 via the Internet 510.

Communication with the Utility Service 610 may also be establishedto/from the bridging management node 310 via the Internet 510, proxiedby an Internet based server 165 or by way of the utility meter 610 b.The bridging Management Node 308 can, for example, communicate directlywith an enabled utility meter 610 b via a HAN interface 430, which isthen in turn linked to the

Utility Service 610 by way of their communication network 610 a.Optionally, the utility meter 610 b can have a connection 460 to theLAN/WLAN 500 or directly 450 to the PC 160, in which casescommunications to/from the bridging management node 308 may beestablished as previously described. It should be understood that,though in the above examples of bridging communications between the meshNetwork 45 and other networks or devices is done by a bridging devicenode 308, the bridging service may be accomplished by any device capableof bridging communications between the described mesh Network 45 and atleast one other network.

Further, by forming a mesh type network, wherein each management node308, 311-315 has a communication pathway to each other management node308, 311-315, and each management node 308, 311-315 is capable ofstoring, forwarding, relaying, and/or repeating communications data,multiple pathways are available for the data communications. Thisfurther enables the system to overcome issues such as interference orattenuation by selecting alternate communications pathways.Additionally, whereas the Network 45 may be distributed in nature, thepresent system does not rely on any single management node 311-315 fornormal operations. As such, the present system can accommodate andrecover from individual management nodes 311-315 ceasing to participateon the Network 45. Similarly, the present system can accommodate theaddition and dynamic integration of new management nodes 311-315 to theexisting Network 45. It should be noted that it is not required thatthis communications bridge be comprised of a management node 40, per se.

Looking now to FIG. 8, in addition to an awareness of the state of theNetwork and individual nodes 310, 311, 312, each management node 40 maycalculate the relative distance to another management node 40. Forexample, in the figure “Node 2” 311 may measure the round-trip times ofspecific ZigBee communications to “Node 1” 310 and again to “Node 3”312. By analyzing the timing values, “Node 2” 311 may calculate therelative distances to “Node 3” 312 and “Node 1” 310. Furthermore, bycommunicating these values to the other management nodes 40, which havein turn performed similar timing calculations, the system facilitatesthe generation of an overall map of the relative physical locations ofthe management nodes 40 in the Network.

A further feature of the present system addresses the issue that amodern premises micro-grid power management 800 system is not fullycomplete without the capability to include a “smart” inverter as acomponent of the system. A smart or condition responsive inverter allowsthe system's premises micro-grid 1 to have a local alternative powersource feeding electricity into the system's micro-grid 1, which isresponsive to the user's system - unlike the utility service provider610 on the line side 610 a of the utility meter 610 b in FIG. 5). FIG.9, illustrates a local power source component (not shown) having a localfeed line 18 in electric communication with an input to a smart inverter10 a. The local power source in this embodiment is presumed to provideDC power, such as from a PV array or a battery bank, and the inverter 22of the smart inverter 10 a converts DC power to AC power in the systemand is under the control of the user. In a preferred embodiment, thesmart inverter 10 a provides real-time measurements of electricalcharacteristics via a feed line sensor 46 a disposed at the DC interface34 of the local power feed line 18 of the inverter 22, and a micro-gridline sensor 46 b at the AC interface 32 of the micro-grid power line 16.Additionally, the smart inverter management node 40 can communicatedirectly with the internal circuitry 70 a of the inverter 22 via anintegral serial communications interface Ma, to enable the communicationof data in addition to data from the sensors 46 a, 46 b, such as:

inverter circuitry state, inverter health, and diagnostic data relatedto the inverter circuitry. Further, via either or both of thebidirectional communication interfaces 50, 52, the smart inverter 10 acan communicate with other smart devices 10 of the present system.

It should be noted that the inverter 22 in FIG. 9 can be substitutedwith a device such as a rectifier—converting AC power from themicro-grid line 16 to DC power at the feed line 18. In this case, thedevice 22 is operating as a rectifier; for charging DC power storagemeans (not shown), such as a battery bank or other DC power storagemechanism. Additionally, smart wire devices 10 incorporating bothinverter and a rectifier capabilities may be practiced in the presentinvention.

While the above description contains many specifics, these should not beconstrued as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather asexemplifications of one or another preferred embodiment thereof Manyother variations are possible, which would be obvious to one skilled inthe art. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined bythe scope of the appended claims and their equivalents, and not just bythe embodiments.

1. An electrical power management system for managing electrical power usage on a micro-power grid (1) of a consumer's premises, the management system comprising: an electricity metering device (610 b) feeding power into a distribution panel (200) of the micro-power grid (1); the distribution panel (200), having a main circuit breaker (100 a) and at least one distribution circuit breaker (100 b) connected to at least one drop power line (16) to feed electrical power throughout the micro-grid (1); at least one remotely controllable, condition sensing wire-device (10) disposed in the at least one drop power line (16) between the distribution panel (200) and a load appliance (120, 220) installed on the power line (16); and a signal processing unit (100) in signal communication with the at least one remotely controllable, condition sensing wire-device (10), the signal processing unit (100) in a communications network with the at least one remotely controllable, condition sensing wire-device (10), and adapted to provide electrical power usage management of the micro-power grid (1) and adapted to overcome breaks in the communications network. 